April Associate of the Month: Plymouth Campus

Ron Westafer, RN

Ronald Westafer, RN, Emergency Department

“Ron Westafer is an excellent Nurse in the Emergency Department, is well like by his peers, and is highly recommended by the Physicians in the ED,” said Elaine Flemming, RN, Nursing Director at SJRMC/Plymouth. “He is very knowledgeable and well versed in Emergency Medicine and places patient satisfaction as a major goal.”

Ron has been a part of SJRMC since 1997 and is active on many committees. He frequently checks in with the Nurses on the Critical Care Unit and the Medical Surgical Unit to assist them with policy updates, changes, or implementation of different initiatives.

“Communication is vital to the success of any organization, especially in health care where the work we do affects so many,” said Westafer. “I am always glad to help however I can and am honored to have been selected as the Associate of the Month here in Plymouth.”

Ron receives many patient compliments, as well, and goes the extra mile to make sure his patients have outstanding care. He is friendly, caring and outgoing. Ron comes to work with a smile and keeps the smile during the entire 12-hour shift.

“We are very lucky to have Ron part of the Saint Joseph family,” said Flemming.

Congratulations to Ronald Westafer, the Plymouth Campus Associate of the Month for April!

Certified Nurses Honored

On Friday, March 18, our Certified Nurses attended a ceremony to honor and bless them. They were recognized for their professionalism, leadership, and commitment to excellence in patient care. The ceremony was held on the Mishawaka Campus in the Chapel, with Marsha King and Sister Laureen Painter leading the ceremony.

At the Plymouth Campus, Elaine Flemming and Chaplain Les Johnson led the ceremony in their Chapel.  Certified nurses were given a small gift in appreciation for going the extra  mile in attaining their National Nursing Specialty Certifications. Watch for our certified nurses to be wearing their new blue Certified RN badges!

According to the Certified Nurses Day Coalition, Certified Nurses Day is an annual day of recognition for and by healthcare leaders dedicated to nursing professionalism, excellence, recognition, and service.  Every year, on March 19th, Certified Nurses are recognized in healthcare organizations across the country.

Maggie Erickson, RNC; Susan Goble, RNC; Linda Gleitz, CRNFA; and Linda Hissong, CNOR

January Associate of the Month: Plymouth Campus

Maggie Erickson

Plymouth Campus

Maggie Erickson, RNC, BSN, Obstetrics

Twenty-one years ago, Maggie Erickson joined the Critical Care Unit staff at the former Saint Joseph Hospital in downtown Mishawaka. In 1995, she transferred to the Plymouth Campus and its Obstetrics (OB) Unit. No matter where she has been, Maggie has consistently been one of SJRMC’s greatest ambassadors.

“You have to be, no matter where you work in a hospital,” she said. “And on OB, what a tremendous opportunity that is to establish relationships between the hospital and the community! These patients are people who are very open to the education aspect of health care because, we all know who have children; babies do not come with a set of instructions.”

Maggie enjoys and thrives on that teaching part of health care. The OB Unit allows for one-on-one interaction that comforts and eases her patients.

“Maggie is a very skilled OB nurse,” said Michele Seese, Plymouth’s OB Nursing Manager. “Her patients love her for her knowledge and the caring, fun way that she delivers her teaching to them.”

She is instrumental in providing education to not only her unit but to the community as well. Within the last year, Maggie completed her Evidence-Based project on Shaken Baby Syndrome. Maggie was then asked to present at the Northwest Indiana Research Consortium in Merrillville.

“Everything we do, whether it is on our unit or out in the community is a reflection of our hospital,” Maggie said. “It is an honor to work here and I appreciate the fact that my co-workers and patients value my opinion. This is a wonderful place to work.”

Congratulations to Maggie Erickson, SJRMC/Plymouth’s Associate of the Month for January!